阅读理解。
One of the greatest contributions to the first Oxford English Dictionary was also one of its most
unusual. In 1879, Oxford University in England asked Prof. James Murray to serve as editor for what
was to be the most ambitious dictionary in the history of the English language. It would include every
English word possible and would give not only the definition but also the history of the word and
quotations (引文) showing how it was used.
This was a huge task.,so Murrary had to find volunteers from Britain, the United States, and the
British colonies to search every newspaper, magazine, and book ever written in English. Hundreds of
volunteers responded, including William Chester Minor. Dr. Minor was an American surgeon who had
served in the Civil War and was now living in England. He gave his address as "Broadmoor, Crowthorne, Berkshire,"" 50 miles from Oxford.
Minor joined the army of volunteers sending words and quotations to Murray. Over the next 17 years, he became one of the staff's most valued contributors.
But he was also a mystery. In spite of many invitations, he would always decline to visit Oxford. So in
1897, Murray finally decided to travel to Crowthorne himself. When he arrived, he found Minor locked
in a book-lined cell at the Broadmoor Asylum (精神病院) for the Criminally insane.
Murray and Minor became friends, sharing their love of words. Minor continued contributing to the
dictionary, sending in more than 10,000 submissions in 20 years. Murray continued to visit Minor
regularly, sometimes taking walks with him around the asylum grounds.
In 1910, Minor left Broadmoor for an asylum in his native America. Murray was at the port to wave
goodbye to his remarkable friend.
Minor died in 1920, seven years before the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was
completed. The 12 volumes defined 414,825 words, and thousands of them were contributions from a
very scholarly and devoted asylum patient.
1. According to the text, the first Oxford English Dictionary _________.
A. came out before minor died
B. was edited by an American volunteer
C. included the English words invented by Murray
D. was intended to be the most ambitious English dictionary
2. How did Dr. Minor contributed to the dictionary?
A. He helped Murray to find hundreds of volunteers.
B. He sent newspapers, magazines and books to Murray.
C. He provided a great number of words and quotations
D. he went to England to work with Murray.
3. Why did Dr. Minor refuse to visit Oxford?
A. He was shut in an asylum
B. He lived far from Oxford
C. He was busy writing a book
D. He disliked traveling
4. Prof. Murray and Dr. Minor became friends mainly because __________.
A. they both served in the Civil War.
B. They had a common interest in words
C. Minor recovered with the help of Murray
D. Murray went to America regularly to visit Minor
5. Which of the following best describe Dr. Minor?
A. Brave and determined
B. Cautious and friendly
C. Considerate and optimistic
D. Unusual and scholarly
6. What does the text mainly talk about?
A. The history of the English language.
B. The friendship between Murray and Minor
C. Minor and the first Oxford English Dictionary
D. Broadmoor Asylum and is patients
